Help! Primary School Teacher or Nurse?

[Happygolucky1994]

Sorry wasn't sure where to post.

But which career should I choose?

I am 23 yr old with a 2 year old daughter. I'm on benefits in a council home (nothing wrong with that) but I desperately want to give my little one a better life i.e. more holidays, opportunities, owning our own home etc..

In September I have the option of either begininng a Primary Education PGCE course which will take one year... or an Adult Nursing course which will take 3 years..

I have listed the pros and cons of each career but it's still not really helped.
I know if you want to be either of those career choices you must be passionate for that one thing but I really am passionate about both! I want a job that's rewarding. I love the idea of caring for others in there time of need but I also adore helping children learn new concepts etc.

I understand that teachers have to work evenings and weekends at home and nurses have to work all kinds of shifts. My biggest worry is not being able to spend much time with my daughter. Childcare is not an issue but i'm with her everyday at the moment so the thought of barely being with her is tough.

I just want to hear what others think of each career. Or if you work in these fields please can you offer some insight to the reality of the jobs. I can't sleep wondering which path to take :/.

Thanks in advance

Good luck and it sounds like you can make it work. You have given it a lot of thought.

I have a close friend who left primary teaching after 15 years and retrained as a nurse. She says that both jobs have their pressures, but in teaching the pressures come home with you.

Are you saying that you want to teach so that you can be at the same school as your child?

Just be aware that the chances of getting a teaching job in the same school as your child is minimal and also brings other issues with it.

Why would you want to see your child as much as you could in school, she's there to learn not spend time with her mum.

Off topic but 'In the HCP 'hierarchy' nursing comes way down. Things done to nurses at various hospital trusts wouldn't have happened to other HCPs, it is the largest professional workforce by far yet is under represented at board level'

This is completely the opposite of my experience as an AHP in both NHS and private services. I think I have worked in 6 trusts over 20 odd years and nursing has always been massively over represented in service management, consultant posts (last trust there were 3 nurse consultants but no equivalent roles for any other profession) and at board level (know at least 2 trusts who have (or had) nurses as their chief exec). Decisions around policies, staffing profiles and working arrangements are often made with nursing practices in mind and just don't work for other professions but because of the fact that it is nurses who are in the decision making roles, it just happens regardless.

Same happens in pre reg education

Bettyspants- I was amazed by the US salaries nurses command in the US. Most nurses are filipino where I live. They always seem so relaxed that I envy them but I am a happy teacher and now as I am 4 days from or 9 week holiday it is the best job in the worlds.Many teachers here leave at 3.10- kinder are done by 12.30 pm each day for the same salary. I m not there yet but I do not take work home and if you get the right school and right attitude that is possible.Good Luck!

I've written a blog about my change to children's nursing from teaching

messageinabigbottle.blogspot.com/2018/10/primary-school-teacher-to-nurse.html

Teaching - better holidays and the ability to work from home more.